Thursday, April 28, 2011

Kid Quote!

From March 16, 2010

Carter: "So, when a lady's ready to have a baby, she just wishes for one. Then she lays an egg whenever she wants to because she's nocturnal, not diurnal."

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Is he really sick? (Or am I?)

I know this is going to sound terrible, but I love it when my little guy (Jack) is sick.

I know, it's terrible.

But seriously - I do (don't tell).

When he's sick, I'm the only one he wants - and honestly? I love that.

When he's not feeling well, my little three year old actually slows down long enough to snuggle and I have a good excuse to not do the dishes and just sit on the couch under a blanket and hold my "baby."

He also wants to wear his footy pajamas all day and as you guys know, those pj's are freaking adorable. And I'm afraid he's going to outgrow the "footy pj" stage before I even finish writing this sentence.

I think it's adorable how he drags his blanket around the house behind him and the way his eyebrows are constantly furrowed making it look like he's always concentrating on something.

No one else likes it when he's sick (because they have a heart?). He won't go to Jeff for anything. Natalie and Carter are annoyed that he's so whiny... because obviously they never struggle with being whiny. {Ahem.} But I'm enjoying every minute.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not some sick person who likes it when my kid is suffering. I am, however, a Mommy who is terribly sad that her "baby" is three and a half already. It's hard enough that most of the time I feel like all Natalie and Carter need me for is for reading cursive, making french braids, and paying for stuff - the least Jack can do is stay little. Seriously, is it too much to ask?

Okay, I don't really love it when he's sick (obviously, I'm not completely demented). But I do love getting to coddle cuddle him without having to bribe him for it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sick child who might need some attention.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The one with all the Easter confusion.

So this morning as I was driving the kids to the bus stop we started discussing Easter. Natalie was asking questions about Jesus dying on the cross. I started to explain to them how after Jesus died while he was hanging on the cross they brought his dead body to a cave (tomb) and put a big rock in front of it and guards stood watch so no one would try to steal the body. And that Jesus laid there for three days and then...

"...and then they sent him to a lion's den!" (Carter)

"No, buddy. That was Daniel, not Jesus..."

"Oh, right."

"So, like I said, after three days--"

"... and then after the three days Jesus ended up in a BIG fish's mouth in the ocean and God saved him!"

"Uh, that was Jonah, buddy."

So, after noting that we need to have a major Bible story review with Carter, ASAP  I continued on to explain to them how after the three days Jesus became alive again and went to heaven and will one day come back to take all the people who love him to heaven with him. I talked to them about what a gift it was for Jesus to die on the cross so that we can go to heaven when we die even though we do things that make him very sad sometimes. He loves us so much that he chose to die so we can be forgiven.

After the long explanation Natalie states simply, "I don't know if I want to go to heaven."

"Really? How come?"

"Well, you said that Jesus will come back for all the people on earth and we'll get to live in heaven - but I think I'll just stay here."

"Why do you want to stay here if everyone is gone?"

"Well someone needs to stay here to take care of all the animals!"

Monday, April 18, 2011

I "Might Have" Monday

A lady walking on the sidewalk might have yelled at us that our music was too loud while we were driving by.

But we couldn't hear her very well.

Because our music was too loud.

{And yes, we do listen to Michael Jackson. And dance to "Thriller." In the car.}

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Kid Quote

From August 27, 2010:

Carter (looking at the picture on the lasagna noodle box and then back at my lasagna): "Is that what you're making?"

Me: "Yes, it is."

Carter: "No offense, Mom, but... are you sure?"

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

JOY

[I don't really know how else to preface this post except to say that these are mostly just random thoughts on being "joyful" that have been marinating in my brain the last couple of days. Coherency is not guaranteed, so read at your own risk.]

Is there a difference between happiness and joy? Can you still have joy while being sad, upset, disappointed, or frustrated?

Through weeks of frustration and trying to find "joy" even in less than desirable circumstances, I'm realizing that it all comes down to what I'm focusing on. When I feel like my circumstances are not ideal, I focus on them {how to change them, then feeling guilty that I'm complaining about them when really they are nothing compared to what others face, and it goes on and on}.

When it comes right down to it, I'm being selfish. Plain and simple. I'm trying to take matters into my own hands and "fix" everything, when it's not my job. I wasn't designed to be a fixer, I was designed to need a fixer. And that's where the "joy" part comes in...

When I'm focusing my attention on Him and not on myself or my circumstances I can't help but be joyful. I mean, seriously, the God who created the universe calls me His own child. Is that not amazing!? He cares about me. He cares about my circumstances and He wants to be a part of every single thing I do, think, and say. He wants to be my best friend. I just have to let Him, and when I do, all the other stuff sort of just falls away and I can get a glimpse of how little it really matters...

...But it's when I have my eyes focused on myself that I really struggle because lets face it. I mess up all the time. PERIOD. Life happens. Kids are disobedient. My patience gets lost somewhere between toothpaste smeared all over the tile grout and kids using spatulas as drum sticks on the bottom of upside down tin buckets. If I tried to find joy in my own strength I would {and do} fail. Epically.

That's why I need to have tunnel vision. I have to have my heart open to His will and my eyes and ears focused on His truths, and believe them for myself! When I simply seek Jesus, my daily circumstances  end up having nothing to do with my heart's contentment because my heart ends up being so filled with the joy of the Lord and so set on what a gift it is to simply be His child and live in the grace Jesus provides that the temporary happenings of this earth can't touch the depth of joy in my heart. When I think about it - about HIM - how could I not be filled with JOY? Are you?

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:11-14

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Kid Quote

From December 15, 2009:

Natalie: "Mom! When I went to teach Jack how to play this game, he already knew how to play!"

Me: "Yeah, I play it with him when you guys are at school."

Natalie: "That's amazing! He's actually learning something from you!"

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Let this be a lesson to... me.

I realize that what I'm going to write about happened this last weekend, but honestly it's taken me this long to be able to laugh about it. Now you get to as well. You're welcome (in advance).

So, on Saturday Natalie and I had a "girl's day." We went out to lunch, went shopping, and we went to see Tangled in 3D. While we were shopping, I decided that Natalie could buy a candy treat to take to the movie because I'm too cheap to buy $8 popcorn. While she was pondering her endless choices in the candy isle of Target, I started to get a sugar craving. As you know (maybe you don't) I've been "off" refined sugar for the past 4 weeks, so candy is out... or is it? While I was waiting for her to make her choice seriously, she is SUCH a girl! I saw the "sugar-free" section of candy (although "sugar-free candy" seems like quite the oxymoron) and I thought, "Maybe I CAN have a little something sweet in the movie... I'm going to try it!" So, I bought these...


Perfect, right? It was so nice sitting in the theater eating these little Jelly Bellys one at at time, totally savoring each unique flavor (and even though they are sugar-free, they tasted pretty good to me because I've all but forgotten what sugar tastes like).

We finished the movie and started making our way home by way of a few thrift stores. On the drive home my stomach started cramping up a little and by the time we got home it was WAY more than a little bit. I could hardly stand up straight and I thought my stomach was going to explode it was so bloated.

Jeff could tell I was completely uncomfortable and started going over what I had eaten that day that would possibly make me so miserable. I told him exactly where and what we ate for lunch (Mucho Gusto - heavenly!) and then what I had eaten at the movies. I said that it had been hours since eating anything and this sudden pain just didn't make any sense!

I wondered if there was any way I was possibly allergic to something in the Jelly Bellys (since I've had Mucho Gusto salads a number of times before, I ruled that out and possibly because I simply refused to have something from there cause the pain as it's my FAVORITE place to eat). I grabbed the Jelly Belly wrapper from the car and Jeff and I read the ingredients...


... most of which we couldn't even pronounce (never a good sign). Then we saw it. The WARNING on the bag. What the bleep kind of candy has to have a warning on it!? (And why isn't it written bigger - ON THE FRONT of the package!?)

This is what it says, "WARNING: Consumption may cause stomach discomfort and/or laxative effect. Individual tolerance will vary. We suggest starting with 8 beans or less."

Seriously, WHAT!? 8 BEANS OR LESS!? Yeah, I ate more than 8. Come on - who eats 8 tiny Jelly Bellys and thinks, "Yes. Totally satisfied." - NO ONE except possibly my sister Jeanna, but she's kind of weird like that (love you Jeanna!). So my stomach? It totally felt it.

I didn't feel better until I woke up on Sunday morning - God bless my sweet husband who lovingly sympathized with me over the pain while laughing hysterically at the whole situation and I vowed to never eat sugar-free Jelly Bellys again. EVER.

And if you do choose to partake in those evil, gut wrenching, candy-of-doom-that-are-sure-to-cause-death, don't say I didn't warn you. Or at least don't eat more than 8 of them.